Speaking with the Calgary Herald’s editorial board last week, Canadian Environmental Minister Jim Prentice said that even with the years of delays seen, an Arctic pipeline has “never been closer” to becoming a reality. Prentice said that he anticipates the basic groundwork for the pipeline will be finished by next spring.

MURMANSK: During its two year Chairmanship of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council Sweden will focus on measures for making the economy in the Barents region eco-efficient.

While the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has decided that the spotted seal population off of Alaska’s coast doesn’t warrant endangered species protection it has listed a small population off the coasts of Russia and China as threatened.

MURMANSK: Russian oil major Rosneft is ready to let foreigners into their projected offshore fields in the Arctic. But will demand market shares in the companies’ respective countries in return.

Murmansk International Economic Forum can become a new arena for establishing innovative forms for cooperation in the High North. That was the conclusion when Polar hero Artur Chilingarov led the Barents countries’ foreign ministers through the forum’s opening plenary meeting.

New information about the future of Arctic ice released today by the Catlin Arctic Survey and the WWF provides more evidence that the ice in the Arctic Ocean is melting and thinning so much that the Arctic Ocean will see a mostly ice free summer within the next decade.

MURMANSK: The Foreign Ministers of the Barents Region will continue to work for easier border crossings.- It’s a serious task and we take it with us in the a new working group for developing of tourism in the region, says Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Troms County will for the next two years have the chairmanship of the Regional Council of the Barents Region. The new chairman Pia Svendsgård said in here opening speech that Troms will be an active chair in their period.

Seventeen teens from across the Northwest Territories are getting the opportunity to further their education and skills by attending the Western Arctic Leadership Program (WALP) taking place in Fort Smith.

The Barents Cooperation is this week on top of the Swedish foreign policy agenda as the country takes over the chair of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council.